This game is the first entry in the Yakuza series; A sequel, titled Yakuza 2, was released in Japan on December 7, 2006[1] and in North America and Europe on September 9, 2008 and September 19, 2008 respectively.[2]

Synopsis

Setting

Although the game does not explicitly say it, much of the game takes place in Tokyo's Shinjuku ward, most noticeably a recreation of Shinjuku's red-light districtKabukichō, which is famous for its hostess bars (cabarets), host clubs, love hotels, shops, restaurants, nightclubs and its organized crime presence. Although the area was recreated as a fictionalized "Kamurocho district", much of Kabukichō's landmarks remain such as the red neon sign Kabukicho Ichiban-kai (歌舞伎町一番街) portal in the district's main entrance (renamed "Kamurocho Tenka Hitoto-ori", 神室町天下一通り), Koma Theater (renamed Kamuro Theater), Theater Square, Milano Bowl (renamed Shunjiku Mach Bowl), Don Quijote discount store (a tie-in[3]), Seibu Shinjuku Station, Kabukicho Sakura Street (歌舞伎町 さくら通り) portal renamed "Kamurocho Pink Street" (神室町ピンク通り) and its adjacent FamilyMart convenience store (renamed Poppo)[4].

Tokyo's area called Shinjuku Golden Gai (新宿ゴールデン街) which is located eastern Kabukicho and is famous for its small bars is also recreated in as the "Kamuro Champion Gai" (神室チャンピオン街).

Kabukicho's highest skyscraper Tokyo Tokenko Plaza Hygea (東京都健康プラザハイジア) and his surroundings don't exist in Kamurocho though, they have been replaced by differents streets and a comparable yet fictitious building called "Millenium Tower", the game's main landmark.

Story

The game follows the story of Kazuma Kiryu(桐生 一馬,Kiryū Kazuma?), a former yakuza whose release from prison after a ten-year sentence sparks the setup of the game's plot. After his release, he returns to find his friend Yumi Sawamura is missing and the Tojo Clan he was once a part of has had ten billion yen (at $1=100yen, approx. USD$100 million) stolen from them, which the entire Japanese underworld is now searching for.

Soundtrack

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The Yakuza & Yakuza 2 Original Sound Track (HCV-287) dual-disc boxset was published by Wave Master in Japan on January 25, 2007[6]. The music was composed by Hidenori Shoji, Sachio Ogawa, Keitaro Hanada, Fumio Ito, Yuri Fukuda. The closing theme is John Newton's Amazing Grace, a classic gospel sung in English by Eri Kawai; additional performers are Makotch (vocals), Yuri (chorus) and Tomica (chorus). The tracklist for Yakuza has 23 titles (details are available below).

Marketing and release

The Kamuro Theater, modeled after the Koma Theater, is a main landmark in the game. TV ads are displayed in-game and can be viewed in full screen.

Tie-in and product placement

In order to both support the game's expensive production and make Kamurocho a realistic recreation of Tokyo's Kabukicho, Sega contracted a tie-in campaign with famous Japanese companies. As a result some places found in the game, such as the Don Quijote discount store and the Club Sega game centers are modeled after the real life buildings.

Sega also used product placement strategy and introduced ads within the game. This includes a collaboration with the Japanese Suntory group which advertises in-game with ad banners, Boss Coffee ads and vending machines are also visible in Kamurocho; cans are purcheasable within Kamurocho stores. Since the group produces local drinks and is a distributor of foreign alcohols, all brands appearing in Kamurocho's bars and pubs, being Whiskey, Jack Daniel'sBourbon or Carlsberg Beer, are real brands of Suntory.

Versions

As part of the pre-ordering campaign, the Japanese first print was bundled with two limited items, a Tojo Clanlapel pin replica (特製ピンバッジ, tokusei pin baju, lit. "deluxe pin badge")[7] and a monography called Kamutai Magazine (December 2005 issue)[8]. Since then a new issue of Kamutai Magazine is bundled with each franchise episode pre-order.

Also the original PlayStation 2 the Best edition (SLPM-74234) included a bonus DVD with the trailer of Yakuza 2, while the reprint (SLPM-74253) which was released during the production of the spin-off was repackaged with a rose cover art instead of white (a.k.a. リパッケージ版, ripakkeji han lit. "repackage edition") and a bonus DVD with the trailer of Ryu Ga Gotoku Kenzan!, a voice cast message and a 20-minute producer interview[9].

The western releases were only regular copies, instead Sega Europe and America used online marketing. A flash game, "CodeYakuza.com", was created and an English subtitled version of the game's 2006 live-action adaption directed by Takeshi Miyasaka, As Though a Dragon: Prologue, was freely downloadable on the game's official website[10].

Sales

Due to its commercial success on the Japanese market, Yakuza had a PlayStation 2 the Best edition on October 26, 2006, and an exceptional reprint on December 6, 2007. In contrast, this Asian long seller title never had a Platinum or Greatest Hits re-release on the western markets. Though, total sales reach 1 million[11].

Reception

The game was heavily acclaimed in Japan for combining innovative game play with cinema like story telling and character development on the back of Japan's criminal underground.[12]

Yakuza received a generally good reaction among critics.

GameSpot: 7.4 out of 10

IGN: 8.2 out of 10

PSM Magazine: 8.5 out of 10

Official Playstation Magazine: 8 out of 10

Electronic Gaming Monthly: 7.67 out of 10

Game Informer: 6 out of 10

PSX Extreme: 8.1 out of 10

Game Revolution: C-

IGN praised its combat system and sense of style but criticized its tedious gameplay.